British Titles system? so basically, my great-grandfather was a knight (as in Sir, not medieval).....?

Question

British Titles system? so basically, my great-grandfather was a knight (as in Sir, not medieval) so i was wondering if that means i have a title?

is it hereditary?

thanks for any responses.

henry.

Answer 1

His title is hereditary ONLY if he was a Knight Baronet (abbreviated to "Bart").

A Knight Baronet is the most junior of all the hereditary titles; and it does NOT make its holder a member of the Peerage.  (Peers are restricted to Dukes, Marquesses, Earls, Viscounts and Barons, in descending order of seniority)

So if your ancestor was "Sir Somebody Something, Bart", then his title was hereditary.  But if it was "Sir Somebody Something, KBE" (or many other initials beginning with a K), then he was only a Knight.  HOWEVER some of the most famous people were "only" Knights -- like Sir Winston Churchill.

Answer 2

No you don't have a title.

These things are totally irrelevant.

You get knighthoods for giving lots of money to the party in power. They are very often given to crooks.

Answer 3

Knighthood is not hereditary, except that the title of "esquire" was traditionally reserved for the oldest sons of knights.

Answer 4

Hello, Henry. Could be, but much more information would be required to ascertain your right to bear a title.

I feel you should contact the College of Arms in London. They have a website and will be pleased to assist you.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Knighthoods in Britain are not hereditary.

Baronetcies (baronets are also called "Sir Firstname" just like knights) are hereditary. If your great-grandfather was a baronet, and to are the oldest son of the oldest son of his oldest son, all of whom are dead, you would be entitled to that baronetcy, which would make you Sir Henry. But somehow I feel that if that were the case, you'd know about it.

Answer 6

no u dont

Answer 7

Only if it was a hereditary title , in which case sons would inherit it. That kind of Baronetcy is no longer handed out . They are lifetime only .

Answer 8

Some are hereditary titles and would have been passed down via eldest sons (who are still British citizens). Only one person would have the title at any  given time, so if had lots of sons, then onlly one would inherit it.

Some are only for the lifetime of that individual.

Answer 9

You are not a knght. Knighthoods are not hereditary and they are not peerage titles.

Hereditary peerage titles,which means the bearer can run for a seat in The House of Lords,are,in order of precedence(importance):

Duke/Duchess,Marquess/Marchioness,

Earl/Countess,Viscount/Viscountess,

Baron/Baroness. A non-peerage title that IS hereditary is a Baronet.And,yes,baronetcies are STILL awarded,but not often! In my lifetime,Laurence Olivier,Tim Rice,Andrew Llyod-Webber,Margaret Thatcher were made Barons/Baroness,a higher honor,while Denis Thatcher,husband of Margaret, was made a baronet.

More info about baronetcies being awarded:

from http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa...

"First, hereditary honours have largely disappeared. Since 1964, baronetcies have been very rarely awarded (Denis Thatcher being the last). And the same has been true of hereditary peerages (Whitelaw, Thomas and Macmillan being the only recent exceptions). Moreover, most hereditary peers have now been excluded from the House of Lords. Instead, since 1958, life peerages have been given out in ever increasing numbers. Second, at all levels of the honours system, there has been increasing recognition of women and minorities. "

Today,to sit in the House of Lords,one must run for the honor!So,not only is it difficult to be made an hereditary or a life peer,it's also hard to get a seat in The House of Lords,if one qualifies.

For more information about titles visit http://www.users.chinet.com/~laura/html/...

http://www.royal.gov/uk/output/Page4877....